Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday ahead of US-mediated talks with Russia scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. Merz called on Moscow to engage seriously in ceasefire negotiations, suggesting a recent six-day local truce in Russian-occupied Oleshky could provide a model for halting attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea. US envoy Steve Witkoff said the Abu Dhabi meetings would address postwar security arrangements, humanitarian measures and de-escalation. Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead Moscow’s delegation, the Kremlin confirmed. Beforehand, representatives from the United States, NATO, the European Union and European governments will meet in Brussels this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and reconstruction. Zelenskyy said he hoped working-level negotiations could lead to a meeting among the three countries’ leaders. Merz said he had seen no sign that Moscow was serious about a ceasefire or peace agreement.
